“Ambient Jazz” feels like the culmination of a sound that, for the last 30 years, japanese sunset soundtrack maestro Kiyotaka Fukagawa aka Farr, more commonly aka Calm, has been developing and perfecting. Getting increasingly classy, increasingly sophisticated, while simultaneously heading deeper into the spiritual, the cosmic. 

Calm’s catalogue has seen him, with each new release, move further from his house and techno roots. Along the way he’s established a trusted collective of talented collaborators who have effectively become his band: violinist Acovio, saxophonist Kato Yuichiro, pianist Shibata Toshitaka and bassist Sugimoto Tomokazu. All accomplished, virtuoso players. 

Calm, in his role as composer and bandleader, supplies sympathetic synthesised backing, while allowing his spars, in turn, space to solo. Surrounding their improvisations with drones, pulses, and kosmische arpeggios. Contrasting and complimenting contrabass swing and syncopated brushes with IDM bleeps and TB-303 squelches. The experienced ensemble seemingly effortlessly blending electronic and organic chops. 

The 8 tracks here also welcome a few fresh additions to Calm’s creative core. “Ephemeral Colored Moments” shines a spotlight on flautist Kakoi Eiko and trumpeter Sakaguchi Shuichiro – both members of dub outfit Echomaker – while “7 Steps Backward, 8 Steps Forward” showcases the hypnotic, hanpan gymnastics of Kimnee. 

Calm’s latest long-player, Ambient Jazz, can be ordered directly from Music Conception.